Toe lasting machine with binder holder



y 7, 1960 M. J. RODERICK 2,936,467

TOE LASTING MACHINE WITH BINDER HOLDER Filed Oct. 2, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 [ram/ M07 JL/mzlze/ JEaderzZ/Z May 17, 1960 M. J. RODERICK TOE LASTING MACHINE WITH BINDER HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1957 May 17, 1960 M. J. RODERICK TOE LASTING MACHINE WITH BINDER HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 2, 1957 fr rerazar Maw! (ZIakrzZ/Z flip 9* May 17, 1960 M. J. RODERICK TOE LASTING MACHINE WITH BINDER HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 2, 1957 May 17, 1960 M. J. RODERICK TOE LASTING MACHINE WITH BINDER HOLDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2, 1957 Unite Stat.

TOE LASTING MACHINE WITH anmnn HOLDER Manuel J. Roderick, Plymouth, Mass., assignor to Jacob S. Kamborian, West Newton, Mass.

Application October 2, 1957, Serial No. 687,722

Claims. (Cl. 12--12.4l)

This invention relates to shoe lasting machines and more especially to machines for lasting the ends of shoes as illustrated in Patent No. 2,668,967 and application Serial No. 563,270, filed February 3, 1956, and now Patent No. 2,888,693, issued June 2, 1959, on Control for Lasting Machine, in the name of Thomas A. Weisz.

In the aforesaid machine a last, with an upper and bottom member tacked thereto, is supported bottom up in a position to be operated upon by wipers for stressing the lasting margin of the upper heightwise and gathering it in over the bottom about the toe. According to one mode of manufacturing welt shoes a binder is fastened about the constricted margin after it is lasted to hold it in place until the inseam stitching or stapling is completed. Ordinarily the binder is in the form of a wire and is applied by hand. For example, after the lasting margin has been lasted to the shoe the operator drives tacks through the margin at the opposite sides of the toe, rearwardly of the tip, then takes a piece of wire of appropriate length, anchors one end by twisting it about the projecting tack at one side, grasps the other end with lasting pinchers, draws the wire tightly about the lasting margin and then anchors that end by twisting it about the second tack at that side. Thus held the lasting margin is ready for stitching or stapling to the insole and welt and for trimming of the excess margin.

An object of this invention is to provide means for holding a binder in readiness to be drawn quickly about the gathered margin before the lasting stresses are lost. Another object is to provide means which will make the binder available in appropriate length at the place where it is to be used so that the operator does not have to place it in position by hand. Another object is to provide means for automatically supplying a new length of binder as the previous length is used up. Another ob ject is to provide a new length of binder and sever it from its source in readiness for use in the interim between removing the binder from its support and fastening it to the shoe being operated upon. Another object is to provide means for supplying a new length ofbinder for use independently of any cyclical operation of the machine so that if a binder being pulled into place or fastened is damaged or broken, a new binder is available for use without commencing the lasting operation over. Another object is to provide means for supplying the binder automatically, which means will not interfere with the normal lasting instrumentalities. Another ob ject is to provide means for partially separating the shoe support and wipers perpendicular to the bottom of the shoe to permit the binder to be more easily drawn from its support between the wipers and the shoulder of the shoe and then to restore'the shoe to its initial position. Another object is to provide means for automatically initiating operation of the means for supplying the binder, cutting it off and effecting momentary separation of the shoe bottom from the wipers while the binder is being drawn into place, all of which operations are accomplished without interfering with the manual controlof themachine'r- As herein illustrated, there is a holder or guide for receiving and holding a length of binder bent to conform to the toe of the shoe, close to the base of the gathered lasting margin with its ends projecting rearwardly with respect to the tip of the toe so as to be easily gripped for twisting about lasting tacks driven into the bottom. The aforesaid holder is disposed beneath the wipers and there is means for automatically supplying a suitable length of binder to the holder and for cutting it off, operation of which is initiated by withdrawal of the binder from the holder, so that each time the binder is withdrawn for use a new binder is supplied in readiness for the next operation, or indeed for the instant operation in the event that the binder withdrawn becomes unusable.

Normally the pressure between the shoe bottom and the wipers during lasting is quite high; accordingly, it is customary to back the shoe away from the wipers to relieve the pressure and hence to facilitate drawing the binder between the wiper and the bottom without complete withdrawal of the wipers. As herein illustrated, the relative movement of the wipers and shoe support perpendicular to the shoe bottom to provide the necessary separation is effected by power operated means and, in accordance with the invention, operation of the power operated means is automatically initiated by withdrawal of the binder from its holder simultaneously with the operation of the means for supplying a new length of wire to the holder.

The non-uniform character of shoe making materials is such that uninterruptable cyclic operation is not feasible; accordingly there is both manually operable means and automatically operable means for controlling operation of the power operated means so that they may be employed concurrently or independently of each other at any time during the operation of the machine.

Other novel features and advantages of the binder holding means, feeding means, cutting off means and control means will appear hereinafter in the description of the machine with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the toe lasting machine partly in section, showing the means for effecting movement of the wipers, shoe support and the controls therefor;

Fig. 2 is a plan view looking down at the top of the machine showing the control lever projecting from the left-hand side;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the upper part of the machine, the lower part being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a plan view looking down on top of Fig. 1

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line 7--7 of Fig. 5

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the machine as seen from the right-hand side;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view at the right-hand side of the machine; and p v p Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic layout of the pneumatic and electrical controls.

14-14, which are arranged to be advanced and retraced in a substantially horizontal plane by appropriate means, such as shown in the aforesaid application. At the front of the machine, Figs. 1, 3 and 10, there is mounted for vertical sliding movement a carriage 16 on which is mounted a shoe support 18, which is provided with a heel pin rest 20. The carriage is connected to a post 1 located inside of the frame which is movable vertically and has on its upper end a toe rest 22. When the carriage and toe rest are at the proper elevation they support the last, bottom side up, with the toe resting'on the toe support within the recess 12 in a position to be operated upon by the wipers. Elevation of the carriage and toe rest is effected by movement of the post 1, which in turn is moved by a piston operating in a cylinder 2, to which the post is connected.

As described in the aforesaid application air under pressure is supplied to the cylinder 2 and its direction of flow, that is, to the one end or the other is controlled by a valve V2 which in turn is actuated through suitable linkage by a hand lever 3, which projects horizontally from the left-hand side of the machine when standing in a position facing the wipers. By rotation of the hand lever about its longitudinal axis the .post may be raised or lowered. The same hand lever is movable back and forth with a push and pull action to retract and advance the wipers through similar valve and cylinder means as also described in the aforesaid application, but which need not be related in further detail herein.

' In accordance with the invention means is provided for holding a length of binder material, hereinafter called a lasting wire or Wire within the recess 12, just below the wipers in a position to be drawn between the wipers and the shoulder of the lasted upper and then anchored at its ends to the bottom of the shoe by lasting tacks driven through the margin as shown in Fig. 5. To this end there is fastened within the recess a curved wire holder 24 (Fig. which is supported in a horizontal position, by a pair of bracket members 2626 and screws 28-28 extending through slots therein, for limited vertical adjustment with respect to the undersides of the wipers. The wire holder has a semicircular rear portion (Fig. 5) and forwardly diverging legs and is, made up of a base 34B of substantially rectangular cross-section (Fig. 6), having in its upper surface a continuous groove 32, the forward wall 34 of which slopes forwardly toward the inner side and a cover plate 36 yieldably fastened to the top over the groove 32 by pins 38 engaged within suitable holes in the cover and base. The lower portions of the pins have springs 40 compressed thereon between the lower side of the base and cotter pin supported washers 42 at the lower ends of the pins. As thus constructed the cover 36 while normally closing the groove 32 is yieldable upon application of pressure to its underside to open the groove. A length of wire 44, as shown in Fig. 6, seated in the groove, with its ends projecting from opposite ends of the support will thus beheld shaped to the contour of the tip of the shoe. Now, if one of the projecting ends of the wire is twisted about a lasting tack at one side of the shoe and lasting pinchers are used to grasp the opposite end, by pulling on the free end of the wire, the wire within the groove 32 will slide upwardly and forwardly over the curved surface 34, lift the cover 36 and escape from the groove so that it may then be drawn tautly about the base of the lasting margin and twisted about the second lasting tack.

The lasting wire is supplied to one end of the holder 24, the right as shown herein, from a reel of wire 46 (Fig. which rests on a horizontal plate 48 secured by a bracket 50 to the machine frame. The coil is re-- tained in place by four upright posts 52 fixed to the plate 48 and removable cover plate 54 having holes through it for reception of the upper ends of the posts so that it rests onthe top of the coil. The coil is unwound from its center through a hole in the plate 48 into a flexible tube 56, for example a nylon tube fastened to the underside of the plate by a suitable nipple 58. The tube 56 extends forwardly to a point adjacent a pair of cooperating feed wheels 59 and 60, between which the wire is advanced by rotation of the wheels into a Bourdon tube 62 to guide the wire as it enters and leaves the feed rolls. Aligned nozzles 64 and 66 are supported along a line which is tangent to the contacting surfaces of the rolls, these nozzles being supported by a plate 68 which forms the bearing for the upper one of the rolls. The feed wheels 59 and 60 have coaxial meshing gears 100 and 162 so that rotation of the upper feed wheel produces rotation of the lower feed wheel. On the shaft of the upper feed wheel there is a sprocket 104 which is drivably connected to a sprocket 106 by a chain 108. The sprocket 106 is part of a one-way clutch 110 which has on it a driving gear 112. Clockwise rotation of the sprocket 106 elfects a corresponding rotation of the sprocket 104 and hence of the feed wheel 59 so as to advance the wire from the coil 46. Clockwise rotation of the sprocket 106 is eifected through the one-way clutch by a corresponding clockwise rotation of the gear 112 and this in turn is rotated by a reciprocal rack bar 114. Forward movement of the rack bar 114, that is, toward the left as seen in Figs. 10 and 11, rotates the gear 112 in a clockwise direction and return movement, that is, toward the right, rotates it in a counterclockwise direction, however, since the gear 112 is connected to the sprocket 106 by a one-way clutch counterclockwise rotation of the gear 112 does not rotate the sprocket 106. The one-way clutch also makes it possible to rotate the upper feed wheel 59 independently of the power drive through the gear 112 and to this end the upper feed wheel 59 has fastened to its shaft a knob 113 which may be grasped to turn it. This is convenient when for some reason or the other the wire becomes snarled and has to be re moved or exhausted and a new supply inserted for feeding the wire into the rolls by hand.

The Bourdon tube 62 extends forwardly and across the front of the machine to a nipple 65 which is fixed in a block 67 (Figs. 3 and 7). The block 67 is fastened by bolts 69 to an angle bracket 70 (Fig. 7), which in turn is bolted to the front of the frame. The block 67 has a vertical passage 72 through it, the lower end of which is in registration with the nipple 65 and the upper end of which terminates at the upper surface of the block 67. A bearing block 74 which is quarter round in cross-section is fastened to the angle 70 and has through it a horizontal passage 76 in which there is slidably mounted a rod 78, to the left-hand end of which is fastened a head 80 which has a cross-section corresponding to that of the block 74. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, the left end of the bearing block 74 is cut at an angle so that its lefthand face 82 inclines outwardly at an angle corresponding substantially to the angle of divergence of the right-- hand arm of the wire holder. The head 80 which is fixed to the rod 78 is inclined outwardly at a corresponding angle and has in its outer curved surface 84 a V-shaped groove .86 (Fig. 3), the lower end of which registers with the upper end of the hole 72 and theupper end of which registers with the open end of the groove 32 in the holder 24, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7. A cover plate 88 overlies the outer surface of the bearing block 74 and the head 80, and is attached to the block by screws 90 so that the top of the groove 86 is closed. Thus a substantially closed continuous passage is provided from the coil source to the open end of the wire holder 24, the wire being delivered from a level below the guide at the right-hand side of' the machine, upwardly to the level of the holder at an angle which coincides substantially with the angleof divergence of the holder arm at that side.

The head 80 has in its lower forward corner a hardened block 92 (Fig. 7), through which a part of the groove 84 passes, which cooperates with the upper surface of the block 67 to provide a shear for cutting off the wire by movement of the head 80 relative to the block 67. This is accomplished, as will be described hereinafter, by moving the head 80 toward the left as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. Since the wire below the head is confined within the passage in the block 67 and that above in the groove 84 closed by the cover plate 88, shifting of the head 80 will shear off the wire. The sheared off portion of the wire lying in the groove 86, which portion extends from the point where the shearing takes place, upwardly into the open end of the holder 2 is moved laterally by the head 80 during the shearing operation, that is, to the left, the movement of the head being such that the groove moves out from beneath the cover plate 88 at its left end. This releases the severed wire so that it springs upwardly out of the groove to a nearly horizontal position such as shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 7, thereby providing a free end which may be grasped and twisted about the lasting tack driven into the bottom of the shoe at this side. Even though the wire may not spring completely free of the groove enough of it does so that as the head 88 returns to its original position beneath the cover 88 the wire will be automatically ejected from the groove and left free. The piston rod 78 is connected to a piston, not shown, within a pressure cylinder 94, which is normally held retracted, that is, biasedto the right by a spring, not shown, and is pushed to the left to effect cutting by admission of a pressure fluid to the right end of the cylinder through a nipple96 and conduit 98, as will appear hereinafter.

It is desirable automatically to supply the wire to the holder so that a new wire will be in readiness for use as soon as the previous wire has been withdrawn for use, to supply the wire as often as needed in any given lasting operation, independently of any fixed cycling of the machine and automatically to lower theshoe away from the wipers a small amount as the lasting wire is withdrawn from its holder so that the wire may be pulled between the wipers and the shoulder into the crease at the base of the wiped-in margin and then after the wire is positioned to restore the support to its initial position by raising. it upwardly to bring the lasting margin again into contact with the underside of the wipers so as to hold the margin under stress until the wire is secured. This is attained herein without interfering with the normal manual control of the wipers and support, as shown diagrammatically inFig. 12.

The right-hand end of the rack 114, Fig. is adjustably connected to a block 116 which in turn is fastened to the protruding end of a piston rod 118, the inner end of which is fastened to a piston in a cylinder 12%. A cam. block 122 is fastened to the block 116. Normally, that is, when the machine is idle, air under pressure is supplied from an outside source through a conductor 124, a master valve 126, a conductor 128, and a conductor 130 to the left-hand end of the cylinder 120 Fig. 10 so that the piston therein is held displaced to the right and the rack bar 114 occupies its extreme right-hand position in readiness to be moved forward on its feeding stroke. Master valve 126 has a piston in it, the position of which is-controlled by two solenoids S1 and S2 and two exhaust ports p1 and p2. A- momentary energization of one of the solenoids will shift the piston toward that end. Shifting the piston simultaneously uncovers the exhaust port at that end and admits pressure to the opposite end and hence the valve willremain shifted until it is displaced by theother solenoid to the opposite end. Normally, that is,during,the preliminary lasting operation and prior to pullingthe wire from; its holder the piston in the valve fldoccupiesi the left-hand end ofwthe'valve block; Fig.=

12 in which position air i'sbeing supplied from the can ductor 124, through the right-hand end of the block, and conductor 128 to the right-hand end of the cylinder 120, as seen in Fig. 12. The exhaust port p1 is open and exhaust port p2 is closed. Neither solenoid is energized since the circuits within which they are located are open.

The circuit for the solenoid Si. is constituted by the conductors c1, c2, c3 and cd, within which is located a normally open switch s1. The circuit for the solenoid S2 is constituted by the conductors c1, c2, and c5, within which the normally open switch s2 is located, and c4.

To eil'ect feeding of the wire the piston in the valve 126 is shifted from its left-hand end position Fig. 12 to its right-hand end position which thereby cuts oif the supply of air to the conduit 128 and supplies it to the lefthand end of the cylinder 12% by way of the conductor 133. Movement of the rack 114 toward the right to its full extent advances the wire from the coil into the holder 124 so that a portion ofit extends from the left-hand open end thereof, which is of sufficient length to be grasped and twisted around the lasting tack at that side. To accomplish shifting of the valve 126 automatically the microswitch s2 is mounted close to the wire holder (Fig. 12) and is actuated momentarily to energize the solenoid S2 by a lever 4 which is pivotally supported adjacent the wire holder.

The lever 4 has a trip 5 which lies across the escape opening at the inner side of the holder in a position to be engaged and tripped by the Wire as it is withdrawn from the holder. Thus at the moment that the wire is pulled free from the holder the solenoid S2 is momentarily energized to shift the piston in the valve block to the right and thereby to supply air to the left-hand end of the cylinder 1259. When the rack reaches its right-hand position, Fig. 12, the earn 122 momentarily depresses the switch s1, thereby momentarily energizing the solenoid S1 which shifts the piston in the valve block back to its left-hand position thereby admitting pressure to the right-hand end of the cylinder so that the rack is withdrawn. By adjusting the rack 114 on the block 116 relative to the cam block 122, the latte;- may be caused to depress the switch s1 earlier or later in the stroke of the piston and hence affords means for varying the length of wire that will be advanced at any given.

time.

To cut off thewire after it is advanced air is supplied to the conductor 98 and this is accomplished through a three-way valve 134 which has inlet and outlet ports 136 and 133 and a vent 14%. The inlet port is connected to the conductor 128 at its junction with the conductor 13% by a T M2. The outlet port 138 is connected to the conductor 95. In the valve 1&4 there is a piston having fast to it a stem 144 which projects from the valve and has on it a follower 146 which is located in a position to be depressed by the sloping lower surface to i the cam block 122 when the latter is moved to the right (Fig. 12) so as to displace the piston downwardly. The piston is normally held in an upper position by a spring. As thus organized, operation takes place as follows.

When the piston in the valve block is at its left-hand position line pressure is delivered through the conduit 123 and 13!} to the left-hand end of the cylinder 120 so as to hold the rack 114 retracted, as previously related. Simultaneously air under full pressure is delivered through the conductor 141 to the inlet port 136 and bypassed out through the vent 14a. The piston within the valve 134 covers the outlet port 133 so that no air is supplied to the cylinder M and therefore the cutter is held in its retracted position by the spring return in its cylinder. When the piston in the valve block is shifted to the righthand position air is out 05 from the conductors 128, 130 and 141 and supplied to the conductor 133 so that the piston in the cylinder 120 begins to move toward the left and the air ahead of the piston is vented through the vent port in the valve 134. When the rack 75: reaches its extreme right-hand position (Fig. 12) the cam 122- overrides the'follower 146, displacing the piston in the valve 134 downwardly thus closing the vent 140 and providing a passage from the inlet port 136 to the outlet port 138. Since there is no pressure in the conductors 128 and 141 at this time nothing happens. When, how ever, the piston in the valve block is shifted back to the left-hand position by momentary actuation of the switch s1 air is delivered under pressure to the conductors 128, 130 and 141 and since the piston in the valve 134 is held open at this instant pressure is immediately delivered to the cutter cylinder 94 so as to operate the cutter. Substantially simultaneously but with a slightlag produced by the length of the cam block 122. as the rack is moved toward the right the cam is disengaged from the follower 146, allowing it to cut off the outlet 138 and open the vent 140. Since the vent 140 is very small there is enough pressure in the line 130 to return the rack to its initial position.

The feeding of the wire, cutting oif and restoring of the feeding mechanism to its initial position for another feeding operation is effected extremely rapidly so that by the time the operator has fastened the wire about the toe another length of wire is ready for his use.

As previously pointed out it is desirable to lower the shoe automatically as the wire is withdrawn from its holder and then restore it to its initial position after the wire is drawn into place so as to hold the margin under stress until the wire is ultimately secured in place. This is accomplished through the cylinder 2 which, as heretofore described, provides the power for elevating and lowering the carriage on which is mounted the heel support pin and also the toe support. As herein illustrated, an L-shaped arm 6 is fastened to the post 1 on which is supported the valve V2 and the linkage operated by the hand lever 3. A small air cylinder 7 is fastened to the L- shaped arm 6 and has projecting from it a plunger which has contact with an arm 8 of the aforesaid linkage. The air cylinder 7 is supplied with air under pressure by way of a conductor whenever air is supplied to the lefthand end of the cylinder 120, the conductor 9 being connected to the conductor 13?; through a reducer 11 and a T 13. Normally the plunger is held retracted by a spring internally or" the cylinder and the cylinder merely moves in elevation with the shoe support without affecting the normal position of the arm 8 as controlled by the hand lever and hence the position of the valve V2. At any given elevation of the shoe support however if the lever 4 is tripped air will be supplied to the left end of the valve block 126 and hence to the air cylinder 7 so as to project the plunger downwardly and hence to displace the arm 8 independently of the hand lever, which in turn operates to lower the shoe support. Lowering of the support will last only so long as the new length of wire is being advanced into the holderaud cut off since as soon as the switch s1 is actuated the piston in the valve block is restored to its left-hand position soas to cut off air through the conductor 9 to the cylinder 7, thereby allowing the plunger to be retracted so that the arm 8 is restored to its initial position by the action of the spring 15.

Operation takes place as follows: A shoe having been placed on a last. and the latter mounted on the heel and toe supports is elevated or lowered to bring its bottom into a position which is close to the plane of operation of the wipers by rotation of the hand lever, whereupon the wipers are brought inwardly over the bottom to stress the lasting margin tautly about the toe. Preferably the heightwise movement of the shoe is effected with the lasting margin in contact with the edge of the wipers so as to effect a heightwise stressing of the lasting margin before it is wiped inwardly and to secure the necessary tautness the shoe may be manipulated up and down and the wipers may be moved to and from the last by pushing and pulling on the hand lever several times. After the lasting margin has been wiped satisfactorily into place the operator drives a lasting tack into the bottom of the shoe at the right-hand side and then grasps the length 7 the wire and pulls it rearwardly from the holder. As he does this the lever 4 is tripped by movement of the wire from the holder which automatically lowers the support just enough to permit the wire to be drawn easily between the lower surfaces of the wipers and the shoulder of the last at the base of the lasting margin, whereupon it is immediately re-elevated to again hold the lasting margin under pressure until the wire can be fastened to a tack driven into the bottom at the left-hand side. During this same period a new length of wire is advanced from the supply of wire to the holder and cut off so that it is in readiness for the next wiring operation. It is to be observed that in the event that the wire withdrawn has to be discarded either because it is defective or because the operator breaks it when fastening it in place a new length will be immediately available without waiting for the machine to go through a fixed cycle of operation as is necessary in current machines of this character. 'Furthermore it is to be observed that throughout the operation, control of the support and wipers may still be had by operation of the hand lever in spite of the automatic control set into motion by withdrawing the wire from the holder.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. in a toe lasting machine, wipers, means for supporting a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers in such fashion as to stress the lasting margin inwardly about the toe, holder means for holding a length of binder material adjacent the end of the toe in readiness to have its ends secured to the bottom with that portion intermediate the ends constricted about the lasted margin, and means operable to supply said holder means with a new length of binder material each time a length is removed therefrom, operation of said last-named means being effected by withdrawing the binder, within the holder at any given time, therefrom.

2. In a lasting machine, wipers, means for supporting a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers in such fashion as to stress the lasting margin inwardly about the toe, a holder containing a continuous groove curved to follow the curvature of the toe of a shoe for holding a binder element close to the tip of the shoe with its ends in readiness to be secured to the bottom by means of lasting tacks, said holder being adapted to release the binder after one end is fastened to the bottom by a tug applied to the other end, and means operable to keep the holder supplied with a suitable length of binder in readiness for each lasting operation, said means being automatically actuated to replenish the holder with wire in response to the withdrawal of wire in the holder at any given time.

3. In a toe lasting machine, wipers, a guide symmetrically located with reference to the wipers and subjacent thereto, means automatically operable to supply a predetermined length of lasting wire to the guide in readiness for each lasting operation, said guide being adapted to hold the wire curved about the tip of the toe with its opposite ends free to be fastened to the bottom, and to release the wire by a pull exerted at one end when the otherend has been anchored by a lasting tack, and a trip located close to the guide and displaceable by with drawal of the wire from the guide to initiate operation of said automatically operable means.

4. In a toe lasting machine, wipers, a guide subjacent the wipers containing a curved passage for holding a lasting wire bent about the toe of a shoe, means operable to advance the leading end of 'a length of wire through the passage from one end to the other untilthe leading end of the wire projects from the-other end of the passage by an amount sufi'icient to be wrapped about alasting tack at that side, means to cut off the wire at the; one end at a place to leave a trailing end projecting from the one end corresponding to the leading end at the other, power operable means for efiecting operation of said feedirn and cutting means and means responsive to the removal of the wire from the guide to initiate operation of said power operable means.

5. In a toe lasting machine, a Wiper, and a support for holding the shoe in a position to be operated by the wiper, a curved guide for holding a wire bent about the toe of the shoe preparatory to drawing it snugly about the lasting margin, a feed tube through which the wire is advanced to the guide, means for advancing a predetermined length of wire through the tube, means for cutting off the Wire after it is disposed in the guide, power operated means for effecting operation of the feeding means and cutting means successively, and means operable by withdrawal of a length of wire from the guide for initiating operation of said power operated means to replace the withdrawn length of wire with a new length of wire.

6. In a toe lasting machine, wipers and a shoe support means mounting the wipers and shoe support for relative movement of the support and wiper to stress the lasting margin inwardly over the bottom of the shoe and to apply pressure perpendicular thereto, a curved guide for releasably holding a length of binding material bent about the toe of a shoe during the lasting operation preparatory to fastening it about the lasting margin after lasting, feeding means for automatically supplying the guide with a new length of binder each time a binder is withdrawn therefrom, power operable means for mo tivating relative movement of the wipers, shoe support and the feeding means, and means for initiating opera tion of said motivating means to effect separation of the shoe support and wipers in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the shoe, to actuate the feeding means and thereafter to return the shoe bottom and wipers into.

contact.

7. In a toe lasting machine, wipers and a shoe support, means mounting the wipers and shoe support for relative movement of the support and wipers to stress the lasting margin heightwise of the bottom and inwardly over the bottom and to apply pressure perpendicular thereto, a. curved guide adjacent the wipers for releasably holding a length of binder bent to conform to the curvature of the toe of a shoe being lasted and in readiness to be fastened to the shoe bottom about thelasted margin without withdrawal of the wipers, means operable to. supply a new length of binder to the guide each time a length of binder is withdrawn therefrom, means operable to effect a momentary separation of the shoe bottom and wiper while the wire is being withdrawn from the guide into the crease at the base of the lasting margin, and then restoring the shoe bottom and wiper into engagement, and means operable by withdrawal of the wire from the guide to initiate operation of said operable means.

8. In a toe lasting machine, wipers and a shoe support, means mounting the wipers and shoe support for relative movement of the support and wipers to stress the lasting margin heightwise of the bottom and inwardly over the bottom and to apply pressure perpendicular to the bottom, a curved guide adjacent the wipers for releasably holding a length of binder bent to correspond to the curvature of the toe of a shoe being lasted and wipers perpendicular to the. plane of the shoeebottorn 10 means for supplying power to said" motors animchrie operable by withdrawal of the binder fromthe guideto actuate said last means, to separate the shoe from the wipers in a direction perpendicular to the bottom to supply a new length of binder to the guide and to return the shoe bottom into engagement with the wipers.

9. In a toelasting machine, wipers and a. shoe support, means mounting the wipers and shoe support for relative movement of the support and wipers to stress the lasting margin heightwise of the shoe and parallel to its bottom, a curved guide adjacent the wipers for releasably holding a length of binder bent to conform to the curvature of the toe of a shoe being lasted and in readiness to be fastened to the shoe bottom about the lasted margin without withdrawal of the wipers, motor actuated means for advancing a length of Wire to the guide and severing it from the supply, motor actuated means for effecting relative movement of the shoesupport and wipers perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom, electrically controlledmeans for supplying power to said motors and means operable by withdrawal of the wire from the guide to initiate operation of said elec-' trically controlled means.

10. In a toe lasting machine, wipers and a shoe support, means mounting the wipers and shoe support for relative movement of the support and wipers to stress the lasting margin heightwise of the shoe and parallel to its bottom, a curved guide adjacent the wipers for releasably holding a length of binder bent to conform to the curvature of the toe of a shoe being lasted and in readiness to be fastened to the shoe bottom about the lasted margin without withdrawal of the wipers, fluid actuated motor means for advancing a length of binder to theguide and severing it from the supply, fluid actuated motor means for effecting relative movement of the shoe support and wipers perpendicular to the plane of the shoe bottom, electrically controlled valves for supplying fluid to said fluid motors, and means operable by withdrawal of the binder from the guide to initiate operation of said electrically controlled valve.

11. In a toe lasting machine, wipers and. a shoe support, means mounting the wipers and shoe support for relative movement of the support and wipers to stress the lasting margin heightwise of the shoe bottom and parallel thereto, manually movable means for effecting said relative movement of the wipers and shoe support to stress the margin about the; toe, means supporting a binding wire about the toe of the shoe in readiness to be applied thereto when the margin has been pulled to the satisfaction of the operator, and means operable by withdrawal of thebinding wire automatically to lower the shoe support from the wipers to permit drawing the wire close to the bottom and then-to restore the support to its initial position in engagement with the wipers.

12. In a toe lasting machine, wipers and a shoe sup port, means mounting the wipers and shoe support for relative. movement of the support and wipers to stress the lasting margin heightwise of the bottom and inwardly over the bottom and to apply pressure perpendicular thereto, a curved guide adjacent the Wipers for releasably holding a length of binder bent to conform to the curvature of the toe of the shoe being lasted and in readiness to be fastened to the shoe bottom about the lasted margin without withdrawal of the wipers, means for supply-' port, means mounting. the wipers and shoe support forf relative movement of the support and wipers; to stress the t lasting margin heightjwise and parallel to the shoebot tom,' means for supporting a binder in a position to be applied to the lasting margin following lasting, means for re-supplying the holder with a length of binder each time a binder is used and a trip operable independently of any cyclical operation of the machine, as often as a binder is removed from the holder and regardless of whether it is used or discarded to initiate operation of said means for resupplying a binder to said support.

14. In a toe lasting machine including wipers and a support for holding a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers, a circular guide disposed beneath the plane of the wipers substantially in the plane of the supported shoe, a coil of wire, means automatically operable to advance the leading end of a length of wire from the coil through the near end of the guide to the far end so that the leading end extends from the far end of the guide along the side of the toe, cutting means at the near end of the guide containing a passage through which the Win passes on its way to the circular guide, said passage forming an extension of the near end of the guide, said cutting means being operable to sever the wire at a place along the wire within the cutter passage to leave a portion thereof at the near end equal to the projecting end at the far end of the guide, said cutting means being operable as it severs the wire to release the length confined within its passage so that it projects freely from the near end of the guide.

15. In a toe lasting machine including wipers and a support for holding a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers, a circular guide disposed beneath the plane of the wipers substantially in the plane of the supported shoe, a coil of wire, means automatically operable to advance the leading end of a length of wire from the coil through the guide from the near end to the far end so that the leading end extends from the far end of the guide along the side of the shoe, cutting means disposed below the plane of the guide at the near end thereof, said cutting means containing a curved passage lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the guide, with one end in direct registration with the guide and the other end lying below the level of the guide, the length of the passage between its ends being adapted to contain a length of wire substantially equal in length to the length of wire projecting from the far end of the guide, and means for automatically effecting operation of the said cutting means to sever the wire near the lower end of the passage and to release the entire length of wire confined within the passage.

16. In a toe lasting machine including wipers and a support for holding a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers, a circular guide disposed beneath the plane of the wipers substantially in the plane of the supported shoe, a coil of wire, means automatically operable to advance the leading end of a length of wire from the coil through the guide from the near end to the far end so that the leading end extends from the far end of the guide along the side of the shoe, cutting means disposed below the plane of the guide at the near end thereof, said cutting means containing a curved passage lying in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the guide with one end at the level of the guide and in registration therewith, and the other end below the guide, said curved passage holding a portion of wire at the near side bent downwardly from the plane of the guide which is substantially equal in length to the length projecting from the far side, and means for automatically effecting operation of the cutting means to sever the wire near the lower end and simultaneously torelease the length confined within the passage.

17. In a toe lasting machine including wipers and a support for holding a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers, a circular guide disposed beneath the plane of the wipers substantially in the plane of the supported shoe, a coil of wire, means automatically operable to advance the leading end of a length ,of wire from the coil through the guide from the'near end to the far end so thatthe leading'end extends from the far end of the guide along the side of the shoe, a cutter disposed below theplane of the guide at the near end thereof, said cutter having relatively movable cutting elements, a normally continuous passage through the elements through which the wire passes from the coil to the near end of the guide, said elements being operable to sever the wire by relative movement of the elements, the passage in one of the movable elements extending from the place of cut ting to a place in registration with the near end of the guide so as to conduct wire advanced through the cutter directly into the near end of the guide, said passage having a side throughout its length from the place of cutting to the near end of the guide which is uncovered by relative movement of the cutting element as the wire is severed to permit the severed wire to escape from the passage and means for automatically effecting relative movement of the cutting elements.

18. In a toe lasting machine, including wipers and a support for holding a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers, 'a circular guide disposed beneath the plane of the wipers substantially in the plane of the supported shoe, a coil of wire, means automatically operable to advance the leading end'of a length of wire from the coil through the guide from the near end to the far end so that the leading end of the wire extends from the far end of the guide along the side of the toe, a cutter disposed below the plane of the guide at the near end, said cutter having a cutting block and a cutting element movable thereon, said block and cutting element having passages which are normal in registration through which the wire from the coil is advanced to the near end of the guide, the passage in the cutter element extending from its place of registration with the passage in the block to the near end of the guide along a curved path rising upwardly to the plane of the guide, said passage having an open side which is normally closed by a fixed cover when the passages are in registration, and means for shifting the cutter relative to the block to displace the passages therebetween so as to-sever the wire and simultaneously to displace the passage in the cutter from beneath the cover thereby to release the length of wire contained therein.

19. In a toe lasting machine including wipers and a support for holding a shoe in a position to be operated upon by the wipers, a circular guide disposed beneath the plane of the wipers substantially in the plane of the bottom of the shoe, a coil of wire, means operable to advance a length of wire from the coil through the guide from the near endto the far end, a cutter for severing the wire after it is advanced into position, and means for effecting operation of the cutter to sever the wire, said last-named means being carried by the first-named means for effecting operation of said cutter at the termination of its feeding movement.

20. In a toe lasting machine, wipers, a curved guide for holding a wire bent about the toe of a shoe preparatory to drawing it snugly about the lasting margin, cooperating feed wheels for advancing a length of wire to the guide and a cutter for cutting ofi a predetermined length of wire, a cylinder containing a piston and rod pro-.

jecting from one end, said rod being operably connected to the feed wheels to turn the same, a cylinder containing a spring biased piston and rod projecting from an end connected to the cutter for advancing the same, a master valve having a spool movable to supply air to to either end of the first cylinder to advance or retract its piston and hence to effect rotation of the feed wheels, a second valve having inlet, vent and outletports, the inlet port being connected to one end of the first cylinder and the outlet port to the second cylinder, a valve element in the second cylinder movable to connect the inlet tothe vent or the outlet, a stem on the element protruding from the valve into the path of movement of the piston rod in the first cylinder and means carried by the 13 piston rod operable by contact with the spindle as the piston reaches the end of its forward stroke to shift the valve element to connect the inlet to the outlet, said means being operable to hold the valve element in said position until the piston has commenced its return stroke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

